Morphology predicts BRAF (V⁶⁰⁰E) mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma: an interobserver reproducibility study.

Papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) with BRAF (V600E) mutation are morphologically distinctive. They are typically classic or tall cell variants, show infiltrative borders, and are associated with desmoplasia/fibrosis, psammoma bodies, and well-developed nuclear features of papillary carcinoma. We hypothesize that morphologic features of PTC can help in the prediction of BRAF (V600E) mutation, and we evaluate the accuracy and the interobserver reproducibility of such prediction.

Vanishing thyroid tumors: a diagnostic dilemma after ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is the most accurate and cost-effective method for evaluating thyroid nodules. However, FNA-induced secondary changes completely replacing thyroid tumors (vanishing tumors) may create a novel problem. In this study, we highlight the diagnostic and management issues associated with the unintended consequences of ultrasonography (US)-guided FNA.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the pancreas.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and highly aggressive primary neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin with a high propensity for local, regional, and distant spread. Distant metastasis of MCC to the pancreas is uncommonly seen and may impose a diagnostic challenge cytologically. Here we report a case of MCC with pancreatic metastasis, which was diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA).

The use of immunocytochemical study in the cytologic diagnosis of melanoma: evaluation of three antibodies.

There are limited studies on the utility of immunostaining in cytologic specimens suspected of melanoma. In this study, we examined the performance of the most commonly used antibodies including monoclonal antibodies against Melan-A (A103), S-100, and HMB-45 antigens. Immunostains were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell blocks prepared from 100 cytologic specimens.

The Bethesda thyroid fine-needle aspiration classification system: year 1 at an academic institution.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) may be the procedure of choice in the preoperative evaluation of thyroid nodules, yet it suffers as a modality both because of its inherent limitations as well as variability in its diagnostic terminology. The National Cancer Institute recently proposed a classification system. The objective of this study was to report our experience in using this new reporting system to review the distribution of diagnosis categories and to evaluate the specificity of the system based on the cytologic-histologic correlation.

Multinodular goiter and primary hyperparathyroidism: a circuitous route to diagnosing metastatic uveal melanoma.

Uveal melanoma spreads exclusively via a hematogenous route and is notable for its latency. Liver metastases are common; however, metastatic spread to unusual sites has been encountered. We report the case of metastatic uveal melanoma in a woman with multinodular goiter and primary hyperparathyroidism.

Jugular vein catheter placement: histologic features and development of catheter-related (fibrin) sheaths in a swine model.

Purpose: To evaluate the development and histologic features of jugular vein catheter-related (fibrin) sheaths in a swine model.

Materials And Methods: The proposal was approved by the University Committee on the Use and Care of Animals. Tunneled silicone 7-F catheters were placed via a jugular vein in eight swine.